POWERS OF THE OCEAN
                             by Don Wildgrube
                        HP Earth Church of Amargi 


Lecture given at A MAGICAL WEEKEND, hosted by the Coven or Uraeus at the "Noah's 
Ark", Best Western Motel, St Charles, Mo., October 19, 1991

                     c 1991 Earth Church of Amargi (Rev. 9/92)


INTRODUCTION

The Theme of this Magical Weekend is "Healing--On Many Levels". Since I have 
recently moved to Florida, on the Eastern coast, close to the Southern tip, I 
have been asked to talk about the "Powers of the ocean".

I first met her on a trip to California, and wasn't really impressed. Maybe it 
was because California, Los Angeles, is a great big desert. In fact, the desert 
began shortly after we left Missouri and I didn't see "normal" country until 
half way through Kansas, on the way back. Arid climates don't do well with me. 
As far as I'm concerned: "A nice place to visit .... etc."

The ocean was nice. I liked seeing all of the things that I had only seen in 
books--Star fish, anemones, kelp, crabs, iron Cross jellyfish. I enjoyed playing 
in the water, on the free beach, but I just wasn't ready to really get to know 
the Ocean.

Eight years ago, I went to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with Carol, who is now 
my wife. I was fascinated by her childlike excitement when she saw the ocean 
again. We spent a week on the beach and I came to know the ocean and fall in 
love with her. We have had to return to the ocean at least once a year for our 
"Ocean fix", and now we live less than two miles from the beach. I spend a lot 
of time on the beach and have gained some insight that I would like share with 
you.

First, since this gathering is about "Healing", I would like to begin by giving 
you some of my ideas on healing and health, and examine the different approaches 
of Eastern and Western cultures to health, and the approach of Neo-Paganism, 
Witchcraft and the New Age, to health.

Western Culture with it's strong Judeo-Xistian-Islamic background stresses the 
evil nature of all life. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of 
God".(1) "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world 
... and were by nature the children of wrath...".(2) And healing is approached 
in that manner. Evil, disease, sinfulness are seen as the normal human 
condition. When Eve caused Adam to sin, we became products of filth. "Behold I 
was shapen iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me."(3) The writers of 
the Judeo-Xistian-islamic scriptures tell us that the best we can hope for in 
this life, is some comfort between afflictions and ultimate peace in the 
afterlife, if we accept Jesus, Allah or Jehovah.

The system of healing comes from without, from an authority figure, and is 
invasive, as typical of the Patriarchal system. Whether it's asking God through 
prayer, faith healing, Christian Science ministering; or taking our pill, our 
medicine, or sticking needles deeply into our bodies.

Eastern Cultures see that wellness is a product of balance of positive and 
negative polarities. The universe is seen as a series of opposites and extremes 
which should be avoided to reach the harmony of the center. The Buddhist strives 
for non-action to gain Samadi. The followers of Zen strive for a point of 
nothingness in order to reach Satori. In Eastern thought Dharma must be the 
actions which "work off" or neutralize Karma. We are told to meditate, to look 
inside for the answers, for that is the key to healing, but we need a guru to 
show us the way. We need an authority figure to show us how to do it, and we are 
taught to not only seek no pain, but also to seek its opposite, no pleasure. 
Everything in balance so that we are no longer on the pendulum, but are in the 
calm in between. We must always seek the middle ground.

"In striving for others, avoid fw-e. in striving for self, avoid disgrace. 
Pursue a middle course. Thus you will keep a sound body, and a sound mind, 
fulfill your duties, and work out your allotted span."(4)

Now as to Neo-Paganism, Witchcraft and The New Age:

First the New Aqers. Wholistic Health is the touted panacea for the New Age. 
Wholistic healing stresses the integration of Body/Mind/Soul. I have a real 
problem with the concept that there is such a division. This pre-supposes that 
the three work independent of each other and must be brought together. indeed, 
the idea that there are three separate entities is another example of 
Patriarchal thinking. The notion that things must be subdivided in order to work 
on one at a time, is surely not a wholistic approach. Humans cannot exist when 
dissected in such a manner. Can you imagine a body without a mind or soul? This 
is surely not human, a politician maybe, but politicians aren't really human, 
are they? A mind without a body? Science fiction readers may love this , but 
human? I think not. And a soul with out a mind or body? I think that a lot of 
new-agers are people with bodies that they deny, minds that they don't use and 
souls with little depth. Deteriorata, a National Larpoon take-off of Desiderata 
says, "Be assured that a walk through the ocean of most souls would scarcely get 
your feet wet."(5)

I have also found that most people that use the term "wholistic", haven't the 
vaguest notion of holism. Let me give you an outline of the basic concepts of 
the philosophy of Holism as compiled by Michael R. Meyer.

THE BASIC CONCEPTS OF HOLISM (6)

1.   Holism regards all organic things as wholes, not just assemblages of parts.

2.   The whole and its parts mutually and reciprocally influence and change each 
other.

3.   Every whole possesses its own internal order or pattern, as well as being a 
part of a more extensive pattern.

4.   The parts are molded and adjusted by the whole, just as the whole in turn 
depends on the co-operation if its parts.

5.   All wholes are ordered and structured systems in which meaning and purpose 
are inherent.

6.   Evolution is a progressive complexification of parts, giving rise to an 
entire series of wholes, from the simplest to the most advanced.

7.   Holism characterizes the entire process of evolution in an ever increasing 
manner. The process is continuous in the sense that the older types of wholes 
are not discarded, but became starting points for newer, more advanced patterns.

8.   Opposites are reconciled and harmonized within the whole.

9.   The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The whole is creative; 
whenever parts cane together to form a whole, something arises that is greater 
than the parts.

Does this put a different light on "Wholistic Health"? Does it now have some 
substance, some depth and deserve further investigation?

Now let us turn to Neo-Paganism and Witchcraft.

it is interesting to me that the two major symbols used by these groups are the 
Ankh and the Pentagram.

Most people are aware that the Ankh is the hieroglyph for life. it actually
mans to live, to live on food or live on the truth, to exist, to make live
and was used in oaths, swearing "...as god/king lives for me". Incidentally the
Egyptian phrase (		), "nh wda snb, sound a lot like the Vulcan greeting of
"May you live long and prosper". The phrase translates :"may he live, be
prosperous, be healthy".(7)

The Pentagram is thought by most as representing the elements of Earth, Air, 
Fire, Water and Spirit, as well as other occult things. And woe to all those 
that wear it with a point down. The truth of the matter is that the pentagram 
was used as a symbol of recognition by members of the Pythagorean Brotherhood. 
The symbol is attributed to Pythagoras, the Greek philosopher and mathematician 
that lived in the 6th century BCE.

"The pentagram star was also regarded by members of the ancient society of 
Pythagoras as a symbol of health. Probably the five angles were denoted by 
the letters Y r 1 0 A, the Greek word for health."(8)

The letters Upsilon, Gamma, Iota, Theta and Alpha in English spell the word, 
Hygieia. (Upsilon is [H]y, Gamma is G, Iota is 1, Theta stand for the diphthong 
El and Alpha is A.) Hygieia or Hygeia is the Greek Goddess of health, from which 
we get the word "hygiene".

The attitude that health is something that we need to acquire, rather than a 
quality inborn within us, must be changed. We must realize that our bodies, in 
most cases have the ability to keep us in proper health, if given half a chance. 
our children must be taught by example, the proper care of the whole of our 
being. Unfortunately it will come too late for some of us, but we can still do 
what we can to help ourselves repair the damage done and maybe seeing the 
consequences of our errors will benefit the next generation.



THE OCEAN, A RATIONAL APPROACH 	

I could tell you the standard things that most people think of when considering 
health and the Ocean. Such things as salt is cleansing and has healing 
properties. It is used in circles for protection and purification. It is used in 
making meat Kosher for the Orthodox Jew and Muslims. Water itself is cleansing 
and purifying. in fact, most of us use our own "home made" sea water in our 
circles. I think that we could all agree that the exercise we get from swimming 
or playing in the water is beneficial. And some may agree, or disagree, that the 
warm sunlight on bare skin is good. I personally think that the sunlight is good 
and that the problem of skin cancer deserves to be re-examined. You see, humans 
have oily skin, and when sunlight shines on oil and irradiates it, Vitamin D is 
produced. I think that the problem is our super clean society that dictates 
that: 
"They better not see you sweat" (9), a society that has us wash, scrub, 
sanitize, deodorize, perfume and anti-perspire our selves. We sweat, as we 
should, we are oily as we should be, we are given Vitamins by the sun, and all 
we think about is washing it off. Here again Patriarchy rears his ugly head.

Salt water is denser than fresh water. it is full of living creatures, some so 
small that they can only be seen by the microscope. It is also full of minerals, 
not salt alone. And because of this density, minerals are less likely to be 
leached out of our bodies. Water, fresh water, especially distilled water, is 
the universal solvent. Not so with salt water.

Another benefit of the ocean is that there is a constant breeze flowing over the 
water and onto land. Beside keeping the temperature at the sea shores more 
constant, they charge the air with negative ions. Negative ions are in the 
atmosphere on the sea shore and on mountain tops where wise people went for 
inspiration. Note the work inspire is from the Greek, in = in + spire = to 
breathe. Inspiration is breathing in.

The ocean is our mother. Every living thing is born in the ocean. Not only did 
life originate in the primordial seas at the dawn of time, but to this day, 
every living creature is born in the ocean. I repeat: Every living creature is 
born in the ocean. Every embryo must be surrounded by water, whether in the 
ocean herself, or in eggs in which the ocean is surrounded by a hard shell, or 
within the bodies of mammals within amniotic sacs.

The ocean is ever changing--the tides, the waves--the ebb and flow. Even the 
embryo in the womb, suspended in her private ocean, experiences the tides. "The 
amniotic fluid is continually being absorbed and renewed at a rapid rate. About 
one-third of the water in the amniotic fluid is replaced each hour."(10)

Our bodies are 60% water, our blood has the salinity of sea water.

Humans have other qualities which they share with other sea or water mammals. 
Mammals that live in the ocean have a layer of fat under their skins which act 
as insulation, in contrast to land mammals which have only coats of fur to 
protect them from the cold.

There is evidence to show that humans have even greater ties to the ocean. in 
fact the ocean was responsible in changing a band of small primates into human 
beings. We evolved into humans in the shallow seas. The buoyancy of the water 
helped us to stand and walk upright. The hands that were at the ends of our legs 
became flippers, allowing us to swim more efficiently. Our nostrils are now 
covered with a streamlined nose of skin and cartilage that helps to keep water 
out when swimming. And swimming is an instinctive reflex of all human babies.

Another connection to the ocean, one which makes us uniquely human, and is 
especially present in females is our reaction to the tides. We are affected by 
the tides, controlled by the course of the moon. Men have been taught to 
sublimate these tidal feelings, but fortunately we are unlearning the 
sublimation and relearning to be aware of the ebb and flow. But women cannot 
escape the flowing of the tides. Darwin thought that the tides affected women by 
changing their cycles from estrus cycles to menstrual cycles. With this change, 
sexual union was no longer just for procreation, it was for pleasure also. in 
other animals, the female come into "heat", and mates to produce off spring. The 
mechanics are so efficient that pregnancy is almost a sure thing. if humans were 
that efficient, our population would have pushed us off of our planet long ago.

An indication of sex for pleasure, is the Clitoris in the human female: "The 
clitoris is a unique organ in the total of human anatomy. Its express purpose is 
to serve both as receptor and transformer of sensual stimuli. Thus, the human 
female has an organ system which is totally limited in physiologic function to 
initiating or elevating levels of sexual tension. No such organ exists within 
the anatomic structure of the human male"(11)

Or as Monica Sjoo and Barbara Mor put it, "What does that mean? It means that 
for the human female, alone among all Earth's life-forms, sexuality and 
reproduction are not inseparable".(12)

Within the Craft, our esbats are held on the evening of the full moon. Even the 
Patriarchists unwittingly salute the moon with their Sabbath. Both our esbats 
and the Sabbath celebrates the menstrual cycle. in ancient times, the full moon 
was considered the menses of Ishtar. This was a sacred time and days of the full 
moon were observed. This time was called the Sa-Bat or Sabbatu. The invading 
Hebrews adopted the custom, calling it the Sabbath, and changed it to be weekly. 
Their calendar betrays them since it is a lunar calendar. The reverence for the 
menstrual cycle is carried on today, hidden in the word bless--from the word 
bles, meaning blood, not just any blood, but menstrual blood.


THE OCEAN AN EMOTIONAL APPROAQi	

All of the forgoing is rational, matter-of-fact, information. This is all stuff 
that you can read about in books, learn about in various classes and see on TV.

I want to introduce you to my Goddess, the Ocean. I visit her at least once a 
week. The sunlight feels good on my bare skin, the breeze is constant and the 
water is invitingly warm, with the Bermuda current bringing the waters up from 
the Equator to me. in winter the water is still in the 70's and 80's.

To experience the Ocean is to experience vastness. Looking out to the horizon we 
can see ships disappear and appear and realize how small we are. We look at the 
tiny grains of sand, made up of rocks, coral and shells that have been ground to 
a coarse powder and feel how large we are.

To experience the Ocean is to experience a myriad of life form . The fish that 
dart in and out, escaping larger fish. Fish from the smallest of the sardines to 
the largest, from round fish like the Porcupine Fish that blow up into a spiny 
ball when frightened, to the flat Stingray that lies in the shallows under a 
light covering of sand.

Sometimes we are lucky enough to see Bottle Nosed Dolphins playing in the wake 
of ships. Some fish, like the Shark, have not changed much from the time there 
was no life on land. Some have evolved to be almost indistinguishable from the 
sea weed, such as the Sargassum Fish, that is the same mottled color, yellow and 
brown, and having many frilly appendages. The only way you can tell, is that a 
bunch of seaweed will not swim away from you when you approach it.

The sea birds--the gulls, the rails) the pipers. The large bulky pelicans that 
fly in formation gracefully, then spilt off and set their wings to dive into the 
Ocean, surfacing with their prey. They float on the waves before taking to 
flight again. The Anhinga, or snake bird is a large bird with porous feathers 
that absorb a lot of water. They inhabit the fresh water marshes that feed the 
ocean. They swim with their bodies submerged. Their long slender, graceful neck 
and head are all that is seen above the water, looking like a snake with a beak 
moving through the water.

I have yet to see a Manatee or a Loggerhead Turtle come ashore, but I intend to 
be a volunteer to check the beach in the early mornings, to look for turtle 
tracks and mark the nesting sites. Then months later, on full moon nights, watch 
for the hatchlings and make sure they head to the sea, following the light of 
the moon, rather than turning to the lights of the city.

Along the Mangroves at low tide you can see the smaller Fiddler Crabs with one 
large claw and one small claw. Then there are the large Blue Crabs that stand up 
and walk sideways, sometimes from the canals to the streets and parking lots. In 
many cases it is their last walk, succumbing to automobiles or hungry humans. 
The horseshoe crab is another animal that has changed little from it's ancestors 
of prehistoric times.

Along the shores at low tide are all types of shells--Oysters, Scallops, Turkey 
Wings, Slippers, Olives, Drills, Lin-pets, Barnacles, Whelks and Conchs to name 
a few. Most have previously been lunch for the birds or other shell fish. There 
are pieces of Coral looking like tree branches, or round with radiating lines or 
whorls as with the Brain Coral. There are sponges. Some look like hollow 
sausages, sane a lot smaller looking like balls or white or green strings and 
some looking like Fezzes.

To experience the ocean is to feel the softness of the water as it washes over 
your skin gently and again, knowing that it can be so powerful as to toss ships 
about as if they were toys, or upend and tumble waders as they walk along in the 
shallow surf. Floating on the waves, we get the feeling of the movement and 
cycles of nature. Watching the ebb and flow of the tides that keep time to the 
moon brings home the real meaning of a part of my oath, when initiated into the 
Craft, "May ... my body ... be buried at the low water mark where the tides in 
their endless caning and going afford me no rest, if I break this my solemn 
promise."(14)

Also as a part of the Ocean are the tidal pools, the areas of wet lands that 
fill and empty twice a day. These are brackish waters, fresh and salt water 
mixed, and the Mangroves are homes to another host of animals that rely directly 
on the ocean. This is where the Fiddler Crabs scurry across the muddy flats at 
low tide. This is where the Egrets, the Cranes, Herons, Spoonbills and the ibis 
live. This is where the frogs and Crocodiles live. And this is where several 
families of escaped Monkeys call home. Further inland, where the water is 
fresher, the Alligator makes it's home.

I have come to know and appreciate Aphrodite--she who is born of sea foam. She 
is the Goddess of the Sea and the Goddess of love. She has given us the 
pleasures of sexual union, She has given us the qualities that make us uniquely 
human.

She has many names:
URANIA	       of lure and ideal love
GENETRIX	       protectress of marriage
PANDEMOS, PORNE	 of lust, patroness of prostitutes
ANOSIA	       impious, irreverent
PEITHO	       persuasive
EPISTROPHIA		 heart-turning
PARAKYPTOUSA	 the side glancer
BAOIOTIS	       of the little ears
KALLIPYGOS		 of the beautiful backside
MACHINITIS		 she who contrives
OF THE MANDRAKE    of aphrodisiacs
PELAGAIA	       of the Ocean
EUKPLOIA	       of good sailing
GALENAIA	       of the calm
AKRAIA	       of the headland
NYMPHA	       bridal
HARMA	             she who joins
PHIL OMM EDES	 lover of genitals
PHILOMMEIDES	 lover of laughter
THALAMON	       of the bridal chamber
PRAXIS	       of success, orgasm
CHARIDOTES		 giver of joy
TYMBOROCHOS		 grave robber(cheater of death)
HETAIRA	       courtesan
ANDROPHONOS	       slayer of men
PSELIUMENE		 of the bracelets or necklaces
STEPHANOUSA		 diademed
PARAGOROS	       the soother
ANTHEIA	       of the flowers
AMBOLOGERA		 postponer of old age (15)

All of the above names are symbols of the ocean and Her powers. She is our 
mother, she is our lover, she is mighty and at the same time soothing. She is 
constantly moving and at the same time calm. She is our teacher. She has given 
us life, and she brings death. She has made us human and endowed us with the 
capacity to love and enjoy. She has given us health. Health is it physical and 
mental well being, soundness", wholeness. Health is "freedom from defect, pain 
and disease".(16) The key work here is freedom. The first ever written word for 
freedom was amargi. The literal translation is return to the Mother.

Let us now return to the Ocean, to our Mother and re-energize ourselves. The 
following is adapted from an exercise by Diane Mariechild: (17)

Sit back and relax. Continue in your pictures of the ocean. Continue to focus on 
the sea shells or other items of the sea. You may close your eyes and just 
listen if you wish.

Relax and deepen. As you move deeper and deeper, letting yourself be carried 
very deeply into the realm of intuitions, images and imagination, cane to a 
deserted beach and begin tracing your name in the sand and watch the waves wash 
it away until you have carried as deeply as you wish. (pause about two minutes)

Still on that lovely, sunny beach, you begin to wander slowly along the 
shoreline, listening to the sound of the waves washing against the sand, 
smelling the salty sea air, hearing the cry of a gull and feeling the warmth 
of the sun on your body, aware of a growing sense of serenity and peace, a 
knowledge that all is one and you are one with all that is. (pause about two 
minutes)

Now you come to rest beside a beautiful tidal pool. Here the water is very 
shallow and still. You see the coral, the shells and maybe a small fish or 
crab.

As you lean closer to the pool, you see reflected there, an image of 
yourself, a self that has many dimensions, a self that can be loving and 
kind, hateful and cruel, caring and indifferent, angry and peaceful, joyous 
and sad, weak and strong. Here in this space out of time you see yourself 
reflected and that reflection mirrors all that is you. (pause about two 
minutes). Now reach you hands into the water and begin splashing, harder and 
harder. As you splash, the images are dissolving, dissolving.

Now the waters are still once again, crystal clear and very still. Once again 
you lean over the pool and see your reflection and mirrored there are all your 
strengths. See the places where your energy flows clearly and uninterruptedly. 
See your skills and sensitivities, your joys and successes. See those attitudes 
and behaviors that are rewarding and bring you peace and contentment. Se the way 
in which you wish to be--and you are--, simply by your intentions. (pause about 
two minutes)

Now to your surprise the tide has comer in, the pool has grown larger and 
deeper, so deep that you are able to dive right in, and that is what you do. 
Dive in the pool that is now a part of the Ocean, and merge with your powerful 
self, knowing that this is your power, the power to create, the power to 
imagine. This imagination is the Goddess essence flowing through you. (pause 
about two minutes)

Now merged with your powerful self, rise up out of the water, out of the trance 
and return awake and refreshed to your waking reality. Open your eyes and 
stretch you body.


NOTES:

1.		Romans 3:23	King James Version, Judeo-Xistian Bible

2.		Ephesians 2:2-3	King James Version, Judeo-Xistian Bible

3.		Psalms 51:5	King Jw-es Version, Judeo-Xistian Bible

4.		"The Works of Chan Tze", The Bible of the World, p513

5.	"National Lanpoon-Radio Dinner" (record), "Deteriorata", Christopher 
Guest.

6.	"A Handbook For The Humanistic Astrologer", Michael Meyer. Also suggested: 
"Holism and Evolution" by Jan C. Smuts.

7.		"Egyptian GrwTnar", Sir Alan Gardner, p557

8.		"The Divine Proportion", H. E. Huntley, p30

9.		From a TV CcnTmrcial

10.		"Tabers Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary", Edition 11, pA47

11.		For more information, see: "The Descent of Woman". Elaine Morgan

12.		"Human Sexual Response", Masters and Johnson, p45

13.		"The Great Cosmic Mother", Monica Sjoo and Barbara Mor, p5

14.	My personal Book of Shadows, from the Watersmeet Coven, with roots in the 
Rollright Stones Coven, in Mercia, England.

15.		"The Witches Goddess", Janet and Stewart Farrar, p115-116

16.		"Webster, New World Dictionary"

17.		"Mother Wit - A Feminist Guide to Psychic Development", Diane
Mariechild. Exercise: "The Tidal Pool", p11-12